Clip for strengthening cardboard boxes or cartons



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A P P L l C A T l 0 N F I L E D l AN- 13, 1920- 1,37 6, 636, Patented May 3, 1921.

INVENTOR By Aim/r21 5,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. PIKE, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLIP FOR STRENGTHENING CARDBOARD BOXES OR CARTONS.

Application filed January 13, 1920. Serial No. 351,093.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM A. PIKE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Pittsfield, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clips for Strengthening Cardboard Boxes or Cartons and a Combination of Box and Strengthening-Clips, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a clip or device to be used temporarily as a stay adapted to strengthen a cardboard box or carton during handling or shipment, and to a combination of such clip and box, and aims to provide improvements therein.

Much merchandise at the present time is put up in cardboard boxes or cartons of a fancy or attractive appearance, which are designed to enhance the attractiveness and salability of the merchandise. These boxes are in their nature somewhat fragile, and in shipment and handling frequently become broken, thus entailing a loss due to the damage to the box or carton, and also due to the fact that the merchandise itself is rendered practically unsalable owing to the lack of its accustomed container.

The breaking of the boxes usually occurs at one of the corners of the cover, owing to a pressure or weight upon the box, which causes the cover to slide down upon the exterior of the box, the pressure against the corner of the box causing the corner of the cover to split or break.

The present invention provides a temporary stay in the form of a clip or device for strengthening the box in such manner that the cover cannot slip down upon the box and become broken, and also provides a novel combination of such clip and box.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In said drawings,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box suitable for containing stationary, and showing the strengthening clip or device applied thereto, and the cover in open position' Fig. 2 is a view of the box and strengthening clips with the cover closed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of one of the strengthening clips.

Referring to said drawings, numeral 1 designates a box, and 2 its cover. Usually the cover is hinged to the box, as indicated Specification of Letters Patent.

at 3, though this is not essential from the.

standpoint of the invention. The cover may ht the box in any manner, but, as here shown, the sides of the cover and box are flush, the edges 6, '7, abutting as shown in Fig. 2, The box may also be provided with an inside mm 9 adapted to overlap the sides of the cover.

12 designates the clips for strengthening the box. These clips are preferably intended for temporary use only, being adapted to be removed and thrown away when the box conta ning the goods reaches its destination and is put on sale. These clips are supported upon or attached to the box in any sultable manner. Preferably, the clips have a hook 14 formed thereon, which is adapted to fit over the edge of the rim 9, in the type of box illustrated. For other types of boxes the means of attaching the clips to, or supporting them upon, the box, would be suitably altered.

The clips 12 are also provided with means for engaging and holding the edge of the cover, being preferably a hook 16 adapted to pass under and up alongside the side of the cover, and thereby holds said edge portion of the cover.

The length of the clip is equal to the distance between its point of support upon the box, and the position of the edge of the cover on the'box in closed position. In the type of box shown, the length of the clip is equal to the height of the rim 9. These clips are also preferably thin, as shown, in order that they may fit between the cover and rim, without putting any strain upon the box or cover. These clips are also preferably broad, as shown, in order to provide a broad bearing or supporting surface upon the edges of the box and of the cover. The exposed end of the clip preferably extends upwardly close to the surface of the box cover so as to be economical of space, in packing. These clips are preferably formed from a piece of broad, thin sheet metal or other suitable rigid material.

One or more of these clips may be used upon a box, as judgment and experience may require.

When the edges of the cover rest in the hooks 16 of the clip, any weight or pressure upon the top will be supported by the clips and in turn supported by the box. This will prevent the cover slipping over the sides of the box, and will also prevent expansion of the cover at its edges, thereby preventing the cover from breaking at its corners. Boxes provided and combined with the clips of the present invention will stand 1. Thecombination, with abox and cover of relatively fragile material, having abutting edges,said box having an internal rim in lapped relation with said cover, when Iclosed, of a temporary box stay in the form of a clip to be used as a strengthening means during handling and shipment, said clip comprising a sheet of suitable rigid material bent in opposite directions at its ends and returned upon itself, the returned portions being spaced from the body portion to form hooks opening in opposite directions, said stay being supported by engagement of one of said hooks with the edge of said rim, the other hook being located just above the box edge, so as to receive and firmly hold the abutting edge of said cover in place, when closed, and having its end portion lying in snug relation with the outer surface of said cover.

sheet of rigid material bent in opposite di rections at its ends and returned upon itself, the returned portions being spaced from the body portion to form hooks opening in opposite directions, said stay being supported by engagement of one of said hooks with the edge of said rim at the side of said box opposite that to whichsaid cover is hinged, the other hook being located just above the box edge, so as to receive and firmly hold the free or swinging edge of said cover in place, when closed in overlapping relation with said rim to its abutting relation with the upper edge of said box, the body portion of said clip lying snugly between the, inner surface of the box cover and the outer surface of said internal rim.

3. The combination, with a box and cover of relatively fragile material,having abutting edges, said box having an internal rim in lapped relation with said cover, when closed, of a temporary box stay in the form of'a clip to be used as a strengthening means during handling and shipment, said clip comprising a sheet of suitable rigid material bent in opposite directionsat its ends and returned upon itself, the returned portions being spaced from the body portion to form hooks opening in opposite directions, the length of said clip being equal to the height of the portion of the rim lapped by said cover, said stay being supported by engagement of one of said books with the edge of said rim, the other hook resting upon the upper edge of the box in position to receive and hold the abutting edge of said cover in place, when closed.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

WILLIAM A. PIKE. 

